Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This weekend is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembrance. It comes from decoration day – a day when people bring flowers, flags or wreaths to decorate the graves of those who have given their lives in service to our country. It’s a day when we remember that some gave their lives to secure the freedoms we enjoy today. Take time on Monday to reflect and thank God for those who have given their lives for you to have life.
Each time we take communion, like next week, June 2, we also celebrate a memorial to Christ. We remember what He has done for us. He gave his life to secure our freedom from sin and from the penalty of sin – eternal death and separation from the grace and mercy of God. This weekend, thank Christ for his work on your behalf.
Other quick announcements:
Though it will be Memorial Day weekend, and the Mandarin and Cantonese, Children and Youth ministries, will not meet, CPC will still have Bible Study on Friday Night – May 24. And there will be Empower fellowship as well on May 24!
On Sunday, children will not have their regular worship service, so they are welcome to join us for the beginning of our service. Normally, I’d encourage them to attend our full worship service. But the sermon this Sunday is going to be for 7th graders and up – basically PG-13. So, if you don’t want your kids hearing about Sodom and Gomorrah just yet, they can go to the MPR to play. Angie has graciously volunteered to supervise kids in the MPR during the sermon.
On June 2, we will have a Q and A with Acting Senior Pastor Sean Lee during the Sunday School hour – from 9:45 to 11 am. This is for all of CPC and LYF in the Chapel (2nd floor Sanctuary). Looking forward to our time together! This Q and A will prepare us for a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday 6/2 at 1:30pm in the Main Sanctuary.
During the meeting, the Search Committee will explain the search process. Church members are welcome to submit questions regarding the Senior Pastor search via the following link prior to the meeting. https://forms.office.com/r/Cww1z0r0MM
At the meeting, we will be voting on whether or not to call Pastor Sean Lee as the Senior Pastor of CBCGL. All church members are invited to attend the meeting and cast your vote. If you are a member who cannot attend the meeting, you may request an absentee ballot from Corinna Lee (corinna.lee@lowell.church) from 5/27 to 6/1 (no later than 1:30pm).
Please continue to pray for the nations of Israel and Ukraine. Pray that the wars would end. Here is a suggested list of prayers if you are at a loss for words in how to pray: https://send.org/story/hh_pray_for_ukraine. And https://worldrelief.org/blog-prayer-for-israel-and-gaza/ Thank you for kneeling on behalf of the people of Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Gaza and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against the forces of darkness in this present age.
This Week (May 24-30, 2024):
1. Tonight, May 24, 2024, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to study the Ministry of Jesus. You can read Luke 6:17-36 to prepare in advance. Join in person in Room A-218 or online via the following link at 7:30 pm:
https://zoom.us/j/685376249?pwd=cWtyUk1pckJiRHJxZVZCSGdJZWw2UT09
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
Password: 840840
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Empower Fellowship (A201A) and the Grace Ambassador Bible Study (A216) will also be meeting!
2. The Living Stones Sunday School and Grace Ambassadors /Empower Sunday School are meeting this Sunday. The Grace Ambassadors / Empower Fellowship will be learning how to do better personal study of the Bible through a study in the Psalms. The Living Stones will be wrapping up their study of the Overview of the NT in the Koinonia Room (A-216). They will use the following link for those who wish to join online this Sunday:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/491248585?pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Join by phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
3. This Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 11:25 am, our CrossPoint Community Worship Service will start and Pastor Nathan will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!
Text: Genesis 19:1-29
Title: Sent and Salty from Sodom
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/
4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (May 29) at 7:45 pm, you are invited, encouraged, and requested to join our weekly prayer meeting. We will not grow in Christ without growing in our dependence on God through prayer. In May, we’re making time for corporate confession. The link is found below in the section on prayer.
Administration / Events
1. We have a missions update (so check out the missions tab in the bulletin)! You can provide support for COCM (in England), for James Liang (at UConn), or pray for Chris and Emily who are serving in Japan. They are still making progress in language acquisition as they have begun serving in the church and filling new roles for their missions organization, all while raising two growing boys! Pray for them!
2. Sunday Lunch Service is available at CBCGL with $5 lunches that are first-come, first-served. We’ll work at ending our service on time so that you can get lunch!
3. Save the Date – Senior Pastor Q and A – June 2nd – During the Sunday School Hour (9:45 to 11 am) in the Chapel – CPC and LYF will join for a time to talk with/interview Pastor Sean Lee (who is the Council-approved candidate for the role of Senior Pastor). This is a time for the congregation to ask questions before we vote on June 2 as a whole church congregation on calling him to serve as our Senior Pastor (since presently he is Acting Senior Pastor, as appointed by the Council). Please pray for discernment and wisdom as we seek God’s will together.
4. Beginning June 16 to August 25 – CPC will have a combined Sunday School discussing Christian Civility. If you don’t know what that is, come and learn! And if you do know what that is, come and practice it!
5. All other announcements can be found here (in our CrossPoint Community bulletin).
For Prayer:
1. From Bishop J.C. Ryle – “To be prayerless is to be Christless, Godless, and in the high road to destruction…It will always be found that when prayers are few, grace, strength, peace, and hope are small.” Please join our Wednesday night prayer meeting (7:45 – 9:15 pm) even if you can’t participate the whole time.
https://zoom.us/j/758587937?pwd=aS9sZUdxcm1janNNM2I2aXJ6Smx2QT09
Meeting ID: 758 587 937
Password: 030086
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
2. We’d be glad to pray for you. If you need prayer, you can submit your prayer request via the following link: https://www.cbcgl.org/pray/
In Christ, your servant, SDG,
Rev. Dr. Nathan Willems
Associate Pastor of CrossPoint Community – A Ministry of CBCGL